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NBN Co has announced it will start switching off copper connections to homes and businesses in some parts of Australia.

The switch-off starts tomorrow, Friday May 23rd, when Armidale, Minnamurra and Kiama Downs in New South Wales, South Morang and Brunswick in Victoria, Townsville, Aitkenvale and Mundingburra in Queensland, Willunga in South Australia and the Tasmanian towns Deloraine, George Town, Kingston Beach, Sorell, St Helens and Triabunna all take a definitive step into the fibrous future.

The big turn-off is potentially problematic for those who have not yet made the jump to a retailer providing NBN-carried services. NBN Co is calling for anyone in those situations to get on their bike and contact their preferred carrier.

The company has also released details of when copper will cark it in other locales, offering the following schedule:

Parts of Toowoomba – from 28 August 2014

Parts of Aspley – from 28 September 2014

Parts of Coffs Harbour – from 17 July 2014

Parts of Gosford – from 5 October 2014

Parts of South Hobart – from 29 September 2014

Parts of Midway Point – from 23 October 2014

Parts of Scottsdale – from 23 October 2014

Parts of Smithton – from 23 October 2014

Further areas planned to switch over in the coming months include:

Parts of Gungahlin – from 17 July 2014

Parts of Bacchus Marsh – from 5 October 2014

NBN-watchers will recognise many of the locales above as early testbeds for the network. Armidale in New South Wales, for example, is smack bang in the former electorate of independent MP Tony Windsor, an NBN enthusiast, and was therefore made an early target for fibre-to-the-premises rollout.

That NBN Co can publish lists of copper-killer suburbs is therefore a milestone of sorts, but scarcely milestone suggesting the network's rollout is making progress. ®